The Novel's Sidekick

Q: What are the four supreme forms of stance?

A: The Flamestance, the Windstance, the Earthstance, and the Voidstance.

- - -

The rays of sunlight hit my eyes as I ran out of my dorm room. The sun rose an hour ago, and I was late for my appointment. I wore heavy leather pants with a similar leather shirt—which were efficient for training purposes.

Passing the grand fountain of the academy, I took the path towards the indoor training hall where Ben would be waiting for me. There were only a few people on the way, and they were mostly training. Why else would they wake up this early in the morning? If not for my need to train, I would not even bother to wake up, considering the cold weather and early hours.

The Starfall mountain range, from the south to the west, restricted most of the icy wind, yet it was still cold outside—not to mention it was only the beginning of fall. I wondered how the folks in Victoria live in that awful weather. Well, thankfully, that was not something I had to worry about. At least not for this month. My current worry was preparing myself for next month.

As I entered the training hall, I found Ben right where I had expected him to be. He was alone in a corner, practising with his long-sword, wearing all the accessories needed for it. He wore no helm, though I knew how hard it would be for someone to get a clear blow on his head. This son of Dockrell inherited their finest blood and will. Although this guy is friendly and silly most of the time, he is damn good at his job.

"Sorry, sorry," I said, coming into the middle of the hall. "I overslept."

"If you ask for someone's help, you should at least have the decency to come at the right time." It was not Ben who said that, but another person who entered from the other side.

He was in similar training clothes, but he also had the other accessories, such as the leather jerkins and arm guards on. With black hair, unlike my red or Ben's golden and a slightly angular face, which could be considered handsome if one took the liberty, Kyle presented himself. He was not a noble, but the way he presented himself neatly threw him onto the list.

Kyle was away on vacation, but it appeared he came back a couple of weeks before the holidays ended. 'Could not sleep well without seeing your partner, could you?' Ben, Kyle and I were supposed to be in the same academic year, but with me failing, both of them advance to the next year.

"Good morning Ben, Kyle," I said, ignoring what he said. It was one of my superpowers. I could ignore idle taunts like that effortlessly.

Kyle nodded and said, "Now that you are here, put on those training clothes fast. I would like to see you are really as good as the rumours."

"I think you are expecting too much," I said, cocking my head towards the pieces of equipment. Scar had not practised his swordsmanship for about eighteen months, and I had not picked up anything other than kitchen knives in my previous life—I really don't see a way to do justice to those rumours.

"Humility," Kyle muttered, as if he could not believe his ears. "Ben, is he alright?"

I raised an eyebrow. Right, Scar always had confidence in his abilities to the point of arrogance, even if he had not trained for months.

"If I was still as good as the rumours," I answered in place of Ben, "would I still be here?"

Kyle stared at me with an odd expression and nodded. Exchanging the nod, I walked towards the side to equip first.

Putting the stuff on the body turned out to be a hassle, though with Kyle's help, it was over in a couple of minutes. I then went to pick up a training sword from the sides. Among the few options, I picked up a long-sword—the one Scar was most familiar with, and I like the most. It was only a fencing sword with moderately blunt blades. It did not appear as a deadly weapon.

But The moment I picked up the sword and took a stance, something clicked inside me and I felt like the sword was made only for me. It had a good weight to it and I think I can easily sever someone's throat with this—considering I could do that without flinching.

"Don't waste time, come at me," Kyle said. He was ready with his sword and helm on.

I nodded, trying to dominate the titillating sensation on my palms. It was as if I had a decade long experience in swordsmanship. Could I really be good at this?

"What are you waiting for with that blank expression?" Kyle said as his legs moved. "Has the genius swordsman fallen so low?"

Kyle came at me with his sword before he even finished talking, not giving me even a second of time. I stumbled at his first attack, backing away.

"I heard a lot about you when I entered the academy, but never saw it with my own eyes. Let's see what you got," Kyle said again and motioned his sword skilfully towards my chest.

I dodged without thinking, and our positions switched. Kyle crept at me again, sword high on his right. He swung, though this time I managed a block in time. But the guy drew back his sword and assaulted my other side.

I was about to block again, but Kyle made a feint as his sword avoided mine, stopping just short of my right shoulder.

"Come on, I know you can do better," Kyle teased and withdrew his sword. "Show me your skills from the old days."

Kyle took a couple of steps back and gave me the gesture to carry on.

I sucked in a deep breath and tried to imitate his footsteps and the way he used his sword. The duel began again, and this time I attacked first. My legs moved, and I swung my sword violently without holding anything back.

Kyle blocked it easily. Within the quick encounter, our eyes met and I could see how bored he was. I was not good enough for him. I really did not like that look in his eyes. Keeping my breathing and footsteps under control, I attacked again. The sword made a swiss sound in the air, and it jerked towards Kyle.

We exchanged a few more moves until the fellow threw me to the cold floor as if I was nothing. Perhaps I am not really good at this as I thought.

"I have never duelled with the old you, but if this is all that left of you, I am truly disappointed," he said and was about to leave as if I held no esteem. "You should leave and carry on with whatever you were doing."

This time, his words got to me, and the sensation returned. It surged in me so intensely that I could not dominate it anymore. I knew what Kyle wanted from me, but I did not know if I ever managed to show him that thing. Scar was a prodigy in swordsmanship, where I am only a nerd, but I could not back down now. The sensation was giving me too many goosebumps to give up now.

Bolts of lightning rushed into my head and I stood up. The grip of my sword tightened and my eyes narrowed. I have never been this focused in my entire life.

"Again," I snarled, scurrying across the cold floor.

The sword held on my right in a prominent position as I lurched at him, swinging it skillfully. Something changed. I did not feel odd holding the sword anymore. What odd was the sensation and how natural it felt in me. Kyle intercepted the sword as easily as before and in the next moment, his sword made the next move.

I did not know why, but I let go of the grip on the hilt and pulled swiftly to a block. An unknown thrill swept over me, and I let it swallow me whole. My grip tightened before the opponent's sword hit mine.

Kyle's eyes changed, and a smile appeared on my lips. I withdrew first, but Kyle chased me out.

Kyle hacked down his sword towards me from the right. My gaze was only on the blade and the arms that held it. In between, I even watched the movement of his legs. In that blink of an eye, Kyle tried to pull another feint, but I somehow caught onto it and beat him to deal a blow to his lower body.

Kyle stumbled, and I chased after him. Pulling my sword in the other direction, twisting my arm, I lurched at long-sword. Kyle instinctively tried to block but my sword avoided it with a feint and reached for his neck. I did not know what I did. That moment was far too complicated than it looked, but it felt too natural to me.

Kyle fell to the ground on his four limbs in defeat. He stared at me with an awed look, rubbing his neck. In the heat of the moment, I actually forgot that we were only practising. Fortunately, the blade was blunt, and we have not infused with spirit force. If not, even with the guard on, we have to shoot for the medical ward instantly.

"Sorry." I released a deep breath and felt a little numb in my head. I did not know where all these came from. They were not the flowery moves nobles learn for a show, but killing arts.

"Perhaps there is still hope for you," Kyle said.

Come on, man. Just say you are awed. Letting out a chuckle, I reached out my arm towards him, and he took it. I pulled him up as the fellow gave me a scrutinising gaze. In my mind, there was something else going on. Did I use Young Flame just now? The third stance of the Flamestance?

I had never seen those stances with my eyes, yet I actually performed them just now. Surely, it was not from me. Perhaps it is the instinct that still lives in the body? Whatever it is, I will take everything.

"Flame Stance," Ben said from the side, throwing us flasks of water. "Despite your lack of practice, I have seen few do better than you. I guess old blood never stagnates. You still have your fine instinct, though the moves need re-polishing."

"That is exactly why I am here." I let the water replenish my thirst before focusing on the conversation.

"Well, three hours a day at least is a must to get back to your old days."

I nodded as my mind drifted off to the moves I had just drawn. Was it the residual instinct that still inhabits this body? Even with that, what Ben said is true. Even with the old blood being powerful, I still have to train. It was more like a necessary for me to train. Even if it was powerful, it would be even more so if properly cultivated.

"Are you convinced now?" Ben asked Kyle, and his lips held a grin. He looked back at me and continued, "When I said that you asked my help, Kyle was hell-bent on coming with me to see it. Looks like he was quite satisfied with it."

"I was overwhelmed for a second," Kyle said with a snort, "and everything went the other way."

"And why did you let yourself be overwhelmed?" Ben chuckled, seeing the bashful expression of his partner.

"Fine, it was my loss."

"That was probably a fluke," I said. Considering the chances of the residual instinct helping me in a life-or-death battle, I could not help but sigh. "I need to train further."

"We are here every morning," Ben said, and he looked at Kyle for agreement. Getting a nod, he continued, "You can join us like today, though with our own skills being limited, we may not be of much help."

"Do not be late like today," Kyle added.

"Sure, thanks," I said and recalled another matter. "But it will not be possible tomorrow. I need to take the admission test."

Ben and Kyle both looked at me, arching their eyebrows. Despite failing twice and standing on my last chance, I did not need to take the admission test to stay in the academy.

Kyle was the first to pick up. "Are you thinking—"

"I'm not switching," I said, shaking my head. "I will try to get into the department of Magi if I can, while still trying to progress on the path of Knight."

"Are you being serious?" Kyle asked, as if he could not believe it. "You know fighting with swords and sorcery are entirely different matters?"

"I understand it very well," I admitted. "But I have to try at least."

___________________________

Edited by Mysteries. Proofread by kwqxz.